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Coronavirus

New Zealand Plans to Open a Travel Bubble with Australia Soon

December 14, 2020

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country plans to open a travel bubble with Australia in the first quarter of next year.

That would mean people traveling from Australia to New Zealand would no longer need to go into quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. Australia is already letting New Zealanders skip quarantine.

The announcement Monday comes two days after New Zealand said it planned a similar bubble with the Cook Islands. The two arrangements would represent the first travel bubbles that New Zealand has agreed to since closing its borders when the coronavirus first hit earlier this year.

New Zealand has moved cautiously on restarting international travel after stamping out community spread of the virus. Ardern says there are some remaining logistical issues to overcome, including how it would deal with a large influx of returning travelers in the case of another significant outbreak in Australia.

The announcement comes as some relief to families separated by the virus and to tourism operators, many of whom rely on visitors from Australia.

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As explorers venture beyond the well-trodden paths of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, they are rewarded with the discovery of hidden gems – charming villages, lesser-known attractions, and off-the-beaten-path wonders that encapsulate the true essence of this Greek region.

The Cities: Alexandroupolis Komotini Xanthi Kavala Drama Towns/Villages: Soufli Orestiada Didymoteicho Maronia Fanari Porto Lagos Eleftheroupoli Keramoti Nea Karvali Doxato - near Drama Kazavitis Limenaria Limenas Chora Samothrace Islands: Thassos Samothrace Museums: Archaeological Museum of Alexandroupolis Archaeological Museum of Komotini Archaeological Museum of Abdera Archaeological Museum of Kavala Archaeological Museum of Drama Archaeological Museum of Thassos Archaeological Museum of Samothrace Municipal Art Gallery of Didymoteicho The Art of Silk Museum of Soufli The Mineral Museum of Evros Municipal Art Gallery of Xanthi The House of Shadows in Xanthi Monuments: Ecclesiastical Museum of Komotini - Imaret of Komotini Halil Bey Mosque of Kavala Remains of ancient Via Egnatia Anastasiadis House (Marbled House) of Drama Archaeological Sites: Evros-Didymoteicho – Land of the Castles: Pythio, Kale, Avanta, Potamou Archaeological Exhibition of Spileo Megalithic Gate of Ancient Ismara in Maroneia Ancient Theater of Maroneia Archaeological Site of Avdira (Abdera) – home of philosophers: Democritus, Protagoras, etc.

Welcome to some highlights of the history, cities, sites, and nature that await visitors to Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

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